My name is Beatrice K. Bamfo and I participated in the Star Alternative Access Program (SAAP Cohort 1). I am happy to share my story with the world and I know after reading it, you will like to support or help other young girls who need such opportunities like I got. When I was selected to be part of the program to help me acquire some knowledge and build skills that will help me gain access to bigger opportunities, I had no idea what the experience was going to be for me but now I can say that being part of this program was a good one.

I took a lot from the leadership lessons and that helped me to know myself better, set smart goals, developed good time management skills and many more life skills that are not taught in school but are essential for me. I also learned some entrepreneurial skills like starting a business, branding, sales and marketing. I had a big problem with anything IT (Information Technology) but now I enjoy it. The digital skills lessons helped me with my typing, coding, securing my phone and laptop and creating a website for myself. With the words of all the facilitators, I was encouraged to push myself to do more to achieve my aim in life. I really benefited from the mentoring aspect of the program. I have a mentor now who helps me in other ways to achieve a goal.

I also had my internship of learning electronics and now I can repair mobile phones. One outstanding thing about the program is that, I got a lot of support from the program team. They gave me a lot of guidance and counseling and because of that, I was able to buy application forms for university, complete and submit. I had many challenges but they were patient with me, assisted me and today, I can say that the program helped me to gain admission and further my education to the university level, the very first from my family.

I am currently pursuing my Bsc in Education at the University of Education, Winneba. I am very grateful to all the STAR Women who have been part of my journey. I believe that empowering young women needs the support from great woman who are ahead of them and that is exactly what I have experienced through this program and I can’t wait to pay it back by helping other girls one day.